SOMO News

Here’s a look back at the amazing Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) events from Feb. 6-Feb. 12!

Training for Life Campus Events: All Week!

TLC events are back for the new year! Check out the schedule below for all the amazing January opportunities coming up, including our 8-week “Healthy Hustle” program. Don’t miss out on these recurring classes and activities!

Capitol Hill Day: Feb. 5-6

Six delegates from Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO) attended Special Olympics’ annual “Capitol Hill Day” in Washington, D.C. to spread the good news of their life-changing programs for those with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics athletes from across the country led more than 200 face-to-face meetings with members of Congress in both the House and Senate.

Missouri’s delegation:

• Development Director, Christina Hunt | from Kansas City
• Athlete, Daxton Miller | from St. Louis
• Athlete, Jennifer Neihouse | from Kansas City  
• Longtime Coach, Supporter and SOMO parent, Dianna Neihouse | from Kansas City
• Unified Champion Schools Manager, Ben Johnson | from St. Louis
• Multimedia & Athlete Leadership Manager, Kayla Hull | from Jefferson City

Special Olympics Missouri coach Dianna Neihouse blogged about her experience during Capitol Hill Day, “I hope I spoke for all SOMO coaches to say that we are here, we love what we do, we see the impact Special Olympics has on our athletes, and we are not going away. We love our athletes, and we have their backs.

Young Athletes at Training for Life Campus: Tuesday, Feb. 6

At the Training for Life Campus, our young athletes were in full swing, honing their skills, building friendships, and embracing the joy of sport!

UMKC Unified Basketball Week 2: Tuesday, Feb. 6

Last Tuesday, Feb. 6, the UMKC community came together for another thrilling installment of Unified Basketball. Athletes of all abilities joined forces on the court to showcase their skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship.

Throughout the evening, spectators were treated to fast-paced action, incredible plays, and heartwarming moments as players demonstrated the power of inclusion and unity through sport.

Unified Basketball Tournament: Thursday, Feb. 8

Special Olympics Missouri hosted a Unified Basketball Tournament and Healthy Athletes event for three schools on Thursday, Feb. 8, 2024. Capital City High School, California High School and Camdenton High School all came together to compete. It was a great day!

Chillicothe Polar Plunge: Saturday, Feb. 10

The 17th Annual Chillicothe Polar Plunge on Feb. 10 at Simpson Park was a splashing success, raising $7,700 to date. A total 31 brave men, women from around the area donned Hawaiian-themed costumes and swimwear to take a chilly dip into freezin’ water. Their Reason for Freezin’ wasthe athletes of Special Olympics Missouri (SOMO).

Online fundraising is still ongoing. Organizers of the Plunge still hope to raise an additional $2,300 to reach the goal of 10,000. Donations can be made on our online fundraising page.

“It was a great day for a Plunge, not too cold,” Plunge Coordinator Melody Prawitz said. “I want to thank everyone for supporting Special Olympics.”

River Region Check Presentation: Saturday, Feb. 10

Thank you so much to River Region Credit Union for its generous donation tonight during the Mizzou basketball game on Saturday night. Two SOMO athletes, Fadraon Anderson and Beth Brokamp, along with two SOMO staff members, Grace Davis and Luke Lamb, accepted the check at halfcourt!

Cops on a Coop: Monday, Feb. 12

We’re egg-static to announce the success of our recent profit share event at Chick-fil-A, hosted by the Jefferson City Police Department to raise funds for Special Olympics Missouri Athletes. Together, we “hatched” a plan to support these incredible athletes and it was “egg-cellent”!